Improvement in indexes



n.v F. THOMAS.

Indexes.

INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 18

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WITNESSES PATENT OFFICE.

cHARLEs E. THOMAS, OE WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

' IMPROVEMENT IN INDEXES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. l 54,299, dated August18, 1874; application filed Y December 6, 1873,

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, CHARLES F. THoyrAs, OfWilmington, in the county of `New Castle and State of Delaware, haveinvented a new and valuable Improvement in Indexes, and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe construction and -Operation of the same, reference being had to theannexed-drawings making a part of this specification, and to the lettersand figures of reference marked thereon.

The'hgure of the drawing is a representation Of my index.

This invention has reference to indexing ledgers and other books forkeeping records and accounts; and Vit consists in a novel arrangementand combination of alphabetical letters with squares, which are markedoff on the sheets, whereby a correct and ready index of names can bemade' by simply observing the initial letters of the surnames andChristian names, and referring to the number of the page registered inthe square corresponding to such names.

letter Z at the bottomof the page. This alph abet` represents Christiannames.

-Across' the tops of the two pages, and inclosed ini a bar above thealphabet last described, is anotherA alphabet, preferably arranged toread from right to left, which designatesthe middle names of persons.

The pages are marked Oft' in right-angular squares, running from side toside of the pages, and from top to bottom thereof, which squarescorrespond Vto the letters of the three alphabets above described.

If desirable, prominent 1ines,properly spaced, and extending from thetops to the bot-toms of the pages, may be adopted, which lines, if moreprominent than the other lines forming the squares above referred to,will quickly guide the eye to the initial letter which it is desired tofind in the middle-name alphabet.

I may also, if desired, print a duplicate middle-letter alphabet at thebottoms Of the pages, and a Christian-name alphabet at the left-handedges thereof, corresponding, respectively, to the alphabets at the topsand right-hand edges of the pages.

Suppose an account is to be Opened with John Doe: The initial letter, D,is found in the surname-alphabet, which gives the page in the index forthis name. The finger is then. run down the Christian-name alphabet tothe letter J, opposite which is found the square in which should bemarked the number of the page in the ledger on which the said account ismade. p

If a person should have a middle nameas, for instance, H. W. Roe-theinitial letters of the surname and Christian name are found las beforedescribed; and the middle name, W., is found rby following thehorizontal row of squares corresponding to H, the initial letter of theChristian name, to the square which corresponds to the W row of themiddle-name alphabet, in which square the proper number of the page onwhich the account is to be opened in the ledger is registered.

If two similar names occur, any gure, letter, or other character iixedupon may be adopted whichwill properly distinguish these duplicatenames. A similar plan may be adopted for duplicate initials.

It will be seen from the above description that I index the pages only,and thus do awayentirely with writin'g names in the index. I thus savetime, labor, and material.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The index, consisting of the pages laid oft' in squares by horizontaland vertical lines, clipped for the usual marginal sur- .name-initialalphabet, and having the `middle-name and Christian-name initialalphabet arranged at right angles with each other along the adjacentedges of each page, as specified, all being combined as described;

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. THOMAS.

Witnesses.:

D. D. KANE, GEORGE E. UPHAM.

